Matthew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

BACKGROUNDER

How would you feel about the new baby if you were one of the neighbours or relatives? When you heard that Mary was suddenly pregnant before she went to Joseph you might have felt shame that she had been unfaithful to him. You might have expected Joseph to break off their marriage, and to go on with his life without Mary. That chapter would be over.

Joseph’s life was turned upside down. As a just and faithful man, he was in an impossible situation. What could he believe about Mary? How could she have been unfaithful to him? As everyone expected, he was prepared to do the right thing, to protect her from shame. But then something unexpected: an angel in a dream, saying “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife” and that the unexpected baby is conceived “through the Holy Spirit”.

The Holy Spirit is the real leader in all of the unexpected events surrounding Joseph. What did Joseph know about the Holy Spirit? The Old Testament, the Bible that he would have known, presents the Holy Spirit as the breath of God. The Holy Spirit brings God’s creative power, inspires prophets, and begins God’s work of recreating a fallen world, and a lost people.

And what’s the source of all the trouble? Why is the Holy Spirit acting in this way? The answer is the unexpected baby. He brings confusion and trouble for his mother, and for her betrothed, Joseph. But the reason for this unexpected baby is that God has a plan for his people. The child will be known as Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

How can we fathom the depth of God’s love for us? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Jesus, son of God and son of Mary, was born into trouble, and his family would have to flee their own country when King Herod sought to have the newborn king killed. And this trouble would end on the cross.

But this baby is not here to bring us more trouble, but to open the doors of hope. Let’s look at Joseph. He’s suddenly on a roller coaster of ups and downs, not the quiet life of which he may have dreamed. And yet, Joseph is obedient. He accepts the baby and his mother. Joseph remembers God’s promises and trusts that God has only good planned for him. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

This is the same faithful God who sends his Holy Spirit to each one of us. His unexpected message disrupts our plans and changes our hopes and dreams. But just as with Joseph, he’s inviting us to trust him, to obey, and to accept his son. Saying “Yes” to Jesus coming into our hearts is the greatest thing we can do. He will come to dwell with us, so that we will know that “God is with us”.